Management has done an excellent job of turning the LA Clippers' roster around ever since the pivotal departure of Paul George. What could have been a crippling development ended up being simply the next step on the Clippers' journey to building what could still be a very successful team next year.
That is great news for Steve Ballmer, who is concerned with getting as many fans in the building as possible when the Clippers open up the brand new Intuit Dome that is certain to change the way luxury sports arenas are looked at in the future. Everyone knows Ballmer wants to keep the hype machine going, and retooling the roster like they have will go a long way toward that.
Recently, it had been reported that Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine could still end up being moved before next season starts, and that the Clippers were a possible destination. Now, that rumor has ultimately been quelled.
The Clippers are not interested in Zach LaVine
According to Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints, a source has indicated that the reported interest between LA and LaVine "has not been coming from the Clippers' side." With that in mind, it seems highly unlikely that the team would be willing to take him on even if Chicago is offering trade packages.
Clippers President Lawrence Frank recently expressed that the team is not so desperate to find another scorer that they are willing to try something that could be reckless. It certainly seems as if he was indirectly addressing the LaVine rumors, given Zach would not exactly be a seamless fit in Los Angeles.
Frank also stated that he believes the team is in excellent position to be a winner next season while still having "flexibility in the long term" that will keep them in the business of competing for championships. All this makes it feel very likely that the Clippers are largely done making moves. The roster we see today should be very close to the one we see them roll out on opening night in October.